Snow landing gear for aeroplanes



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,698,808

M. ADAMTCHIK ET AL SNOW LANDING GEAR FOR AEROPLANES Filed Nov. 9, 1925Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,698,808 PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL ADAMTCHIK AND GIUSEPPE MASSERA, F HAMPSTEAD, LONDON, ENGLAND.

'SNOW LANDING GEAR FOR AEROPLANES.

Application filed November 9, 1925, Serial No. 67,925, and in GreatBritain November 11, 1924.

This invention relates to an improved gear for aeroplanes forfacilitating thelr landing on snow.

The object of the invention is to provide a gear of reduced weight andof increased durability, as compared with gears hltherto proposed forthe same purpose.

The invention consists in strengthening the tread of the ski and itsattachment to the axle journal of the aeroplane by means of a system oftrusses whereby a maximum of strength is attained with aminimum ofweight.

The invention further consists in the improved snow-landing gear foraeroplanes as hereinafter described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevationof one form of construction of the improved ski according to the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, whilst Figures 3 to 8 are crosssections along the axes III to VIII.

The ski which is rigid, consists of a metal box -1 by means of which theski is mounted on the axle journal of the aeroplane in sub stitution forthe wheel. A gusset 2 is rigidly attached to the box 1 being mountedtogether on and secured to pendulous arm structures 3, the lower ends ofwhich project into the longitudinal supporting trusses 4. The pendulousarms 3 consist of one or more struts.forming in the latter case a trussin themselves and one integral whole with the longitudinal trusses 4.The arms and the longitudinal trusses are bound at the sides by thinply-wood in the case of wooden constructions and by sheet metal in thecase of metal constructions. In the drawing the ski is provided with twolongitudinal trusses, one on either side thereof; it is however to beunderstood that the number of longitudinal trusses may be enlargedaccording to the load to be carried and the width of the ski.

Referring more particularly to the actual construction of thelongitudinal trusses, each one of them comprises an upper and a lowerlongron 5 and 5 respectively and struts 6 and diagonals 7 by means ofwhich the longrons 5 and 5 are connected together. The longitudinaltrusses are secured to each other by means of stays 8 whereby a firmbinding is secured. The whole system of longitudinal trusses and crossstays is rigidly secured to the supporting tread of the ski 9, thelatter having its front end bent upwards so as to facilitate passingover obstacles that may be encountered.

The ski is preferably provided with a cigar-shaped stream lined metalcasing 10 which shape allows air to flow'freely around and along theski. This casing is secured to the upper edges of the longitudinaltrusses of the ski. \Vith the same object in view the rear 'edges of thependulous arms 3 and the back of the box 1 are provided with streamlined casings l1 and 12.

In connection with the foregoing it is to be noted that the upperlongrons or girders are inclined from their point of connection with theuprights 3 in op osite directions towards the respective en s of thelower longrons or girders. In addition these portions are connected withthe diagonals and uprights 3 in such a manner that strains due to theshock or impact when landing is imparted throughout the surface of theski.

The details of construction for carrying the invention into efiect maybe modified without in any way departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What We claim is 1. A snow-landing gear for aeroplanes including a skihaving a tread, longitudinal trusswork for strengthening the treadincluding lower girders connected to and arranged in contact with thetread throughout the length and upper longitudinal girders extendingdownwardly at a slight inclination at a point substantially medially ofthe ski to the respective ends thereof, cross trusses arrangedtransversely and vertically between said girders, and attaching meansconnected with said ski at a point substantially medially of the ends ofthe girders, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A snow landing gear for aeroplanes in cluding a ski having a treadand also having a stream line casing, upper and lower longitudinalgirders for reinforcing the tread and the sides of the casing, attachingmeans connected medially of the ski, and the upper girdershaving-portions extending from the point of connection with theattaching means at a slight inclination towards the respec" ends of thelower girders and connected thereto so as to coact with the attachingmeans in equally distributing strain due to impacts when landing.

axle journal of the aeroplane and other bars extending diagonally fromthe upper ends of the uprights to the upper and lower 10 girders,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A snow landing ear for aeroplanes as claimed in claim 2, W ereintrusses are arranged vertically and transversely between the girders andalso between the girders and the attaching means; substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

MICHAEL ADAMTGHIK. en snrrn MASSERA.

